Shinnecock

An extended family spread across 3 continents wanted a home where they could enjoy summers together under one roof, but outdoors as much as possible. They made a unique request: the design of the home and landscape should encourage them to spend more time together outside than inside, amidst the beautiful waterfront setting.

The challenge was to design a house large enough for 3 families, without its mass blocking views to the water from the upland portions of the site, and to integrate interior and exterior spaces. Thus the mass is divided into 5 pieces, pulled apart, and connected with glass breezeways to allow views to the water beyond. Further, the 5 volumes are displaced from one another, creating a checkerboard-like pattern of interior and exterior spaces. As a result, each interior space has exterior access on 3 sides for maximum daylight, ventilation, and views, while the exterior spaces are sheltered from the wind on 3 sides. Second floor rooms cantilever over portions of the terraces to further protect them from the elements. This arrangement creates a range of microclimates, making the outdoors comfortable across a wider spectrum of weather and seasons. There are covered outdoor cooking, dining, and living areas with lighting and radiant heaters above, an entry court that shelters a flowering tree from the wind, sunlit pools and herb gardens, and a pool terrace shaded by trees growing through it.

In the checkerboard plan, the south wall of each interior space is fixed glass to minimize the mullion size and thereby maximize the view to the water. The east and west walls are sliding and pocketing glass doors with their tracks buried beneath the floors. With the doors open, the interior and exterior spaces merge seamlessly. Circulation and views pass from interior to exterior and back again multiple times, knitting together the various spaces.

The rigor of the plan carries over to the section, where different cladding systems define the strata of the house. The first layer is the stone plinth that elevates the house above the flood risk. The water level of the swimming pools is flush with the stone plinth and the door sills too are flush, leaving a perfectly level plane that unites interior, exterior, gardens, and pools, ensuring the accessibility of all for family members of different ages. The next strata is the primarily glass ground level. The few solid walls of this level are clad in custom aluminum panels cast by a fine art foundry. Cuttings from the wetland grasses on the site were placed in the molds. The grasses burned off as the molten aluminum filled the molds, leaving a unique imprint of the place on each panel. The upper story is defined by cedar boards that retain the “live” edges of the logs they were sawn from. All the boards are oriented in the same direction and are secured with cast stainless steel brackets mounted on continuous rails to accommodate variations in each board. On the east and west walls the live edges face out, creating an irregular surface animated by light and shadow. On the north and south walls, the sawn sides face out and the live edges create irregular gaps between the boards. The siding extends around 2nd floor decks and outdoor showers to provide privacy.

The interior spaces highlight the family’s passion for art. In contrast to the highly articulated exterior cladding, the palette of interior materials is muted, focusing attention on the art and the outdoors. The technical systems are also thoughtfully designed to highlight the art. Recessed linear coves with removable slats conceal lights that can be moved and aimed as the art collection grows and changes. The coves also conceal hvac grilles, speakers, security components and acoustic absorbers.

By dividing the large house into pieces and configuring those pieces to provide a range of shelter and openness, the home provides myriad opportunities to gather together inside and outside, enjoying one another and the special place they share.